Smyrna times., 1887-03-30
For the Smyrna Times
The New York Combine and the
Peach Baskets.

The combine of the New York COM
mission merchants who have hitherto
been engaged in selling fruit for the
growers of the Delaware and MARYLAND
feninsula, not to return the peach
baskets, as formerly, deserves and
should receive from the peach growers
universal condemnation. 1t is nero
bosh to talk of selling the basket
with the fruit, and growers must not
De deceived by any such nonsense
When the fruit is sold the basket will
go with it, without seperate or addi-
tional charge and the practical result
Will be a gift of the basket to the bnver
of the fruit.
rms action on the part of the COM
mission merchants is very similar to
that OF a snap Judgment against the
fruit growers which should be aDneaIp6
from by the fruit growers of the whole
Fenlnsula, standing together as q unit
anu Tepeiilng the action of a class of
So'eailed merchants who have COM
nlned for the purpose of debating to
the growers how their business shall he
transacted. With merchant and ems.
TONER this Is n question of mutual
agreement, but with this combine there
IS no mutuality about it. Thev fix the
rate OF commission for selling the frnit
Gne rate for carting the same, which is
hlgher than any other CITY. and is
always charged to the fruit grower
whether actually carted or not and
they now undertake to rob the oro,vare
OF their baskets under the pretence of
selling them with the fruit, And oil
OF Ehis TOO by class of men who have
had business relations with the grow
ers for many years, and who have heen
IN the habit of making their ANIMAL
visits soliciting consgnments of berries
and peaches for sale. OF such mon
Irult growers hereafter should beware
NO more severe blow could be given to
the ilrult growers interest of the Pen.
lnsula IMAM the action Of these men IL
permitted by the growers, to be put in
operation. Whoever heard of commits
sion merchants, jobbers or dealers. in
any product or article of manufactnre
olctatlng to the producers or manufac'
tuFers how their goods shall be sent to
market and the kind of packages thew
Shall use? That is a matter that con.
Germs only the producers: and the
1rult growers of the Delaware and
maryland Peninsula who possess quite
as much intelligence as these produce
commission merchants, much bettpr
know their best interest in this matter
as well how to grow the fruit and the
pest mode of sending it to distant mar,
kets. After trying various methods
of sending that delicate and tender
irult-the peach-tO market in as per-
leeG condition as possible, the peach
growers have found after many wears
trial the stave basket the most com
plete and the present mode of sending
the peach to market and having the |
basket returned for use over and again |
during the season the most complete
and satisfactory to the grower.
But the resolution of the receivers |
that they will return no more baskets |
to the growers unless they pay for them.
has more significance than their decla. |
ration of intention to sell them with
the peaches. 1t looks as though thev
intended to make them a speculation
to deal in; and if not al
ready well paid by the growers for sell
ing their fruit by charging them ten
per cent. on the gross sales and fonr
cents per basket carriage they actually
against the growers for the
purpose Of dealing in their baskets.
buying them up Of the dealers for two
or three cents and selling them back to
the growers for such prices as they NAV
be compelled to pay. And the growers
may expect to see second hand peach
baskets, berry crates, egg crates and
what not, dealt in and sold spot cash,
Iong or short, on the New York Pro-
iuce Exchange. The end is not vet
however. The peach growers have
his matter under their own control.
But what is the remedyP MANY will
anxiously inquire. Here it is. Let
every peach grower notify by letter
he commission merchant who has
been selling his fruit, that unless his
baskets are returned to him as hereto
ore he will discontinue sending anv
more fruit to him for sale. Then hold a
convention of peach growers, including
Delaware, Maryland and New jersey
It which adopt suitable resolutions. ex.
PRESSING the sentiments of the growers.
hen appoint standing committee 10 !
axe charge of the resolutions and have
hem published where they will do the
most good, then proceed to New York
nd then select the names of a number ,
# responsible com mission merchants
o sell the fruit for the growers
Who are not in the combine, and invite
hem to meet the growers, for consul
alton at subsequent meeting to he
allied by the chairman and to hear the
eport of the committee.
No doubt there are quite number
+ responsible men to be found there .
'ho would be glad to engage in busi. :
ess so profitable to them, especially os .
is a season of the year when there i
ut little else for them to do.
Will the peach growers examine these
liggestions and give them force and
uect or will they tamely submit To fhe
lctaatorial action of the New York
roduee merchaats We shall see.
Try Charles &. Bahmler's celehra,aa
o!m.e-made Bread, and Mix Biseuit :
Is Wagon vii stop at your honse 4